Why are we here? We should be asking ourselves that question every time we set foot in a classroom. The ostensible purpose of college education is to provide training for future careers. Exactly what type of career is your area of study preparing you for? That’s not an easy question to answer for those currently majoring in the social sciences or liberal arts.
If you are lacking a straightforward answer to any of the above questions, then it is time to re-evaluate your goals. A degree isn’t worth as much as it used to be considering the fact that record numbers of young people are attending universities. Better ways to distinguish yourself from your competition exist when looking for a job.
It is a simple matter of supply and demand. A limited number of jobs are available in business or government for political scientists, psychologists or historians. The unfortunate reality for many graduates who choose the wrong major is the pursuit of low-paid administrative work.
My point is not to demean such jobs, but rather to highlight the waste of time and money put forth in the quest for a degree, with no concern for the career that it may lead to.
During the past four years, the value of the dollar has plummeted due to imbalances in the global economy. At the same time, oil prices have skyrocketed due to growing global demand coupled with supply constraints. These twin issues are likely to change our economy in two fundamental and lasting ways. What this means for us is that the safety nets that many of our parents now enjoy in Social Security and pension plans are not likely to exist when we get older.
For those of you thinking about a post-baccalaureate education, one of the most popular programs on campus is the teacher education program. The high demand is due in part to the misconception that there is a shortage of teachers. This is only true in such areas as math, science and English. According to its website, Long Beach Unified School District is not currently hiring elementary school teachers.
Unfortunately, administrators feel the need to meet the high demand in the liberal arts and social sciences. This is a tragic misallocation of university money. This school’s highly paid leadership is failing the community by favoring non-productive disciplines like history over the likes of chemical engineering. This is the sort of thinking that will cause us to fall behind Europe, China and Japan economically. If we don’t value technical disciplines above others, there is no way we can compete in a global economy.
Those who choose the path of least resistance in college are likely to pay for that decision later in life. In education, you reap what you sow. There are a number of vocational training programs for those who lack the desire to pursue a practical discipline. After all, college isn’t for everyone.
Sterling Harris is a senior chemical engineering major and a contributing writer for the Daily Forty-Niner.
